WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) wrote to the head of the Wilmington Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center Thursday seeking assurances that Delaware veterans are not being subjected to the same recordkeeping gimmick reportedly being used to disguise scheduling delays at as many as 26 VA facilities around the country. 

“The mere possibility that bureaucratic misconduct would lead to neglect and suffering of our veterans is appalling, so I am writing today to ensure that no such behavior is occurring at VA facilities in Delaware,” Senator Coons wrote.

An investigation by the VA Inspector General found that, to avoid being seen exceeding a 14-day deadline on the scheduling of appointments, VA hospitals in Phoenix, Arizona, were found to have maintained secret secondary waitlists. Only when an appointment fewer than 14 days away became available would the veteran’s request be entered into the system, thus disguising the true wait time. These delays have been linked to as many as 40 deaths.

“Over the last year, I discussed with your predecessor the disconcerting practice of transferring cases from the Philadelphia and Baltimore VAMCs to the Wilmington VAMC,” Senator Coons wrote. “It appears the percentage of backlogged cases in Delaware has still fallen considerably, and that patients are getting the care they need. This is encouraging news, but recent reports compel me to confirm that these backlog-reductions are not the result of the kind of fraudulent behavior seen around the country at other VA centers.”

The full letter can be downloaded as a PDF here: http://1.usa.gov/1nvaTUF


The full text follows:

May 22, 2014 

Robin C. Aube-Warren
Director
Wilmington VA Medical Center
1601 Kirkwood Highway
Wilmington, DE 19805

Dear Director Warren,

In recent weeks, Americans have read with great concern reports that certain Veterans Affairs Medical Centers used a recordkeeping gimmick to disguise backlogs in patient treatment, resulting in the deaths of up to 40 veterans at the Phoenix VAMC alone. The mere possibility that bureaucratic misconduct would lead to neglect and suffering of our veterans is appalling, so I am writing today to ensure that no such behavior is occurring at VA facilities in Delaware.

Over the last year, I discussed with your predecessor the disconcerting practice of transferring cases from the Philadelphia and Baltimore VAMCs to the Wilmington VAMC. It appears the percentage of backlogged cases in Delaware has still fallen considerably, and that patients are getting the care they need. This is encouraging news, but recent reports compel me to confirm that these backlog-reductions are not the result of the kind of fraudulent behavior seen around the country at other VA centers.  

As someone who grew up in a family of active duty service members and veterans, I have the utmost respect and gratitude for America’s service members.  The military is part of the basic fabric of Delaware, with a major presence at Dover Air Force Base and a large Guard and Reserve presence throughout the state.  We have a sacred duty as Americans to support our veterans, and we must do everything in our power to do a better job of taking care of those who have served our great country and Delaware.

I am committed to working to provide the necessary resources to ensure that veterans in Delaware are getting the care and attention they need in a timely manner. I would also appreciate your specific input on ways I can continue to work with my colleagues, including Congressman Carney and Senator Carper, to ensure that we are fully supporting Delaware’s veterans now and in the future.  

                                                                                                            Sincerely,

                                                                                                            Christopher A. Coons

                                                                                                            U.S. Senator